SPORTS ARENAS

GENERAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS Projected Uses Among the first program criteria to be determined regarding multipurpose arenas is the list of projected uses or events which are intended to be booked into the arena. Many events require their own unique features or support facilities which if not included in the original design and construction prove very difficult and costly to provide at a later date (e .g ., inserts in playing floor surface for anchoring circus rigging) . Some also have fixed dimensional or space requirements which must be accommodated and checked for sight lines. Seating Capacity The establishment of maximum seating capacity should be carefully evaluated prior to start of design. Several factors are important in making the determination including: 1. Market area 2. Professional franchises 3. Sponsor/owner 4. Budget 5. Viewing distance limitations The market area, whether it falls within a large metropolitan region or a small college town, should have an influence on determination of optimum seating capacity. The overall size of the market area radius will depend not only upon total area population but largely on available highways and mass transit facilities. The nature of the potential audience must also be analyzed as to income levels, spending establish the maximum capacity. Construction coats end circumstances very too widely to attempt to quote here any cost per seat figures that would not be misleading.

Estimates should be made at the completion of any schematic solution to test the scheme against the budget target. If reductions must be made, they should be balanced between capacity and quality. Too often it is a short sighted decision to hold on to capacity at the sacrifice of material and systems quality which will have longterm penalties in operating and maintenance costs. Plan Configurations One of the earliest decisions to be made in the design/planning process must be that of the basic physical form of the arena seating plan.
Straight Rows Ends and Side The straight-row arena is the simplest end most economical of all possible seating configurations. Straight-Row Sides and Curved-flow Ends this is perhaps the most commonly employed plan for arenas now in use. Straight Rows, and Sides with Diagonal Corners This plan configuration, also quite common, has all the advantages and disadvantages described in Fig. 1. Only those seats in the diagonal corners have relief from the lateral head-movement problem inherent in the side seats. In terms of construction economy it is the least costly of any configuration with full-perimeter seating, lending itself to pre casting or other methods of repetitive trend/riser fabrication. Circular Seating with Straight Rows at Side Lines Upon quick examination it would appear that a circular plan would be the optimum arena seating configuration.

Seating and Sight Lines The study of spectator sight lines in section should proceed simultaneously with development of the arena plan configuration. Sections should be developed at both the arena axis and several intermediate points in any curved plan configuration to verify the arrival point of sight for the maximum number of seats.

The "Picket Fence Effect" It is impractical to provide riser heights sufficient for spectators to see over the heads of persons in the row immediately in front. Two-Row Vision When plotting graphically or calculating sight-line sections, assume a spectator's seated eye level at 3 ft 11 in. above tread elevation and 5 in. from eye level to top of head. Tread and Riser Dimensions Tread width of rows should vary between 32 and 36 in. The wider dimension is generally used in the lower tiers of seats which ore of shallow slope and where the extra comfort is commensurate with their premium cost. Aisle Width and Spacing Recommended aisle width is 3 ft 0 in. Spacing of aisles is usually every 14 to 15 seats. Crossovers-Width and Spacing Crossover aisles will be needed at one or more locations which run horizontally parallel to the seating rows and connect the vertical aisles with vomitories leading under the seating to exits and promenades.

Temporary Seating For most events some amount of temporary seating must be set up to fill in the gap between the fixed seating and the size of the playing surface or performance area. Crowd Movement Great care should be taken in the design/planning process to avoid building in situations which will inhibit the smooth flow of Spectators through the public circulation spaces and to and from the seating areas. This should be true for normal traffic situations or avoiding panic in emergencies. Activities which involve spectators waiting in lines must have sufficient room so that circulation is not blocked behind them. Toilet rooms must be laid out so that peak usage at intermissions is handled as fast as possible to avoid backups within the rooms and the corridors. Shallow pitch ramps should be used wherever possible in lieu of stairs at floor level changes. If escalators are used, ample room must be provided at their landings. Blockages must not occur and force dangerous situations as more spectators are

forced into the space as they are delivered by the moving escalator. The general pattern of circulation must be clear, orderly, and easily comprehensible by the spectators. Building Codes Code requirements relating to arena planning will be primarily concerned with exiting and seating circulation. It will be found that where they exist at all, regulations will vary widely from one locality to another. Many codes do not have any references to arenas at all, and interpolations must be made between specifications for theatres and outdoor stadiums. When this is the case, the designer's assumptions should be checked at an early stage with local building officials to avoid changes after final drawings are complete. SPECTATOR REQUIREMENTS Seating Most arenas now being built are employing theatre-type upholstered seats. The minimum recommended width is 19 in., and they should vary up to 23 in. Centre to centre for the prime areas. In the wedge-shaped sections in curved rows, a mix of widths is usually used to make the ends of each row come out as flush as possible. Where risers are 5 in. or over, seat stanchions should be riser-mounted to facilitate cleaning. Seats should be self-rising with perforated acoustical treatment on the seat bottoms. Concessions Concession stands for food, beverages, souvenirs, and coat checking should be provided at convenient locations in the promenade areas. Counter areas should be as long as practical and if possible recessed in alcoves to prevent backup of patrons into circulation spaces.

 Toilet Rooms Sets of men's and women's rest rooms should be provided at one or more locations on each public level. Their layout must provide for peak load* during the 15- to 20minute intermission periods when hundreds of patrons will pass through each room . It is ideal if a one-way traffic flow can be developed with an in and out doorway separated by some distance. Within, the space should be divided with the water closets and urinals located near the entrance and the lavatories in a space near the exit. Also it is desirable if possible to design each toilet room so that half of the space can be closed off by some means during events of small attendance. This will save a good deal of operating cost for cleaning. Plumbing-line capacity should be studied carefully for peak use and generous pipe spaces with good access provided. Graphics A good graphics and signing control program is important not only for an attractive appearance, but for controlling and expediting crowd movement. Signing can help establish a clear pattern of movement which can easily be comprehended by the patrons. Seat colors in the arena can be keyed to ticket colors to identify the various areas or categories of seating. Scoreboard Two basic types of scoreboards are in common use. The center-hung 4-sided type is one, wall mounted single-faced the other. The central type is usually on a drop cable system which allows it to be lowered to the floor for maintenance. The central speaker cluster can also be combined with this type scoreboard, but it should be checked early whether the same suspension height is appropriate for both

scoreboard visibility and sound distribution. When the wall-mounted type is used, at least two units will be required so that all spectators will have a proper view.

Public/Private Clubs Most new arenas will include a club or restaurant facilit . These are often tied to the purchase of season tickets and their use restricted to these patrons. Capacity might vary from 150 to 300 people. This facility should be located within easy reach of the seating area and also be accessible to patrons at hours other than when the building is open to the general public for events. If an outside concessionaire is involved for the arena, it will also likely manage this club. A typical commercial kitchen will probably be required and should be so located as to be easily serviced from the central trucking/receiving area. This kitchen may also serve to cater food to other parts of the building such as the owner's suits and press lounge.

OPERATING REQUIREMENTS Administrative Offices Areas for the building manager, accounting, personnel, booking, publicity, and engineer are generally provided within the building. In addition, office space may be required for the various teams who use the building, whether they are only tenants or are owned by the arena owner. Ticketing Facilities This area will vary depending upon the intended scope of events to be booked . However, in most situations, ticket booths will be required in the lobby area or an outer lobby. They should be accessible to the public during non event periods without losing security to the remainder of the building. Madison Square Garden has 25 booths, the Forum, 20. Immediately to the rear of the booths should be a large ticket room for storage and sorting advance sale tickets. Also required will be a money room with vault, group sales office, ticket manager's office, and a work area for storing event posters and making up ticket pricing boards. Storage Large bulk storage areas will be needed for a variety of uses. The temporary seating setups for the arena floor will require space to store both chairs and riser platforms. These are usually stacked on metal pipe racks as high an ceilings will permit and handled with forklift trucks. Space for storing the hockey dasher boards and glass, basketball floor and goals, end indoor track must also be provided. All of these should be so located relative to the arena floor as to minimize time and cost for the setting up of each event.

 Locker and Dressing Rooms If the arena is the permanent home of two professional teams (hockey and basketball, for example), a pair of separate home team dressing rooms will be, the teams can share toilets, shower room, a training area, and the trainer's office. The hockey dressing area should be somewhat larger then that for the basketball dressing area because of larger team size and more cumbersome equipment. A pair of rooms for visiting teams somewhat smaller than the rooms for home teams, can be located adjacent to or nearby with home team rooms as shown. Several smaller dressing and interview rooms should be planned in this area. Some can be for individual use, others for four to six people, and each with appropriate toilet facilities. All these spaces should be located at arena floor level with convenient vomitory access to the playing floor. Public exiting traffic should be routed away from the dressing area corridor. Press Facilities A press workroom with adjacent Teletype room and toilet should be located near the lower seating area. It is also desirable to include a lounge in this group with facilities to set up a small bar and food service from the main concession kitchen. A small photographer's work area and darkroom should also be provided at the arena floor level. Location of the press seating varies widely.
Concession /Vendors' Storage

Large bulk storage areas will be required for the concessionaires' supplies of dry food goods, beverages, meat, general supplies, souvenirs and programs. This may include walk-in refrigerator space and cold rooms as specified by the operator. Also needed will be a concession manager's office, a security area for counting money and a vault. Ample vendors' stations will be needed at several points around the arena. They must

be located within easy reach of the seating and be laid out to allow fast refill of the seat vendor's stock. Separated in outdoors are helpful. Employee Toilets/Lockers As seen from the following space allocation summary, several categories of employee spaces will be necessary. General cleaning and maintenance help, ushers, and concession employees each need separate toilet/locker facilities. As local conditions might warrant, space may also be needed for security guards and parking lot employees. Definitive space needs for each group will depend upon a management analysis of the numbers of staff required. Television Broadcasting Facilities appropriate for the telecasting of events are an important ingredient of all new arenas. Consensus as to number, location, height, and angle of camera positions is hard to find, especially if several networks or local stations are likely to be working out of the building at various times.